Longtime Richmond Heights service director given key to the city

It didn’t take long for Donald Lazar to find a second use for his key to the city.
“I noticed on the key it says it’s a brass bottle opener,” Lazar said. “So I’ll carry that around with me.”
Lazar, who is retiring after almost 24 years as the service director of Richmond Heights, was presented with a key to the city by Mayor Miesha Wilson Headen and members of council during the May 27 council meeting.
Lazar had to wait to use that key for its second purpose, however.
“We will have some punch, but my wife wouldn’t let me spike it,” he joked about the reception that followed the meeting.
Looking out into the crowd, Lazar noticed several familiar faces of those he’s helped since he took the position of service director in December 1990. In total, Lazar’s career spans 52 and a half years.
“I just want to say I appreciate the opportunity to work in Richmond Heights and in South Euclid also, I just think it’s time to move on,” he said. “Time goes by fast,” he said. “It did help me healthwise. It kept me on the ball.”
Lazar said he’s most proud of the recycling program he started in the city, which included the creation of a recycling center. He also takes pride in the changes he made to the leaf pickup services, which he said saved the city about $25,000 annually in overtime pay.
“I tried to do my job as economically as possible,” he said.
Richmond Heights Council President David Roche congratulated Lazar on “tremendous career” and was happy to see him retire with the city.
“It’s been a pleasure working with that man for all these years, I’m going to miss him,” longtime City Engineer Lee Courtney said.
Lazar said he’ll miss helping residents most of all.
“Quite a few people came up and thanked me,” he said. “I was touched.”